Based in the beautiful Berkshire mountains of western Massachusetts, Saraswati Imports was founded in the early 1990’s by Elisa Mishory during her extensive travels through Asia. Her passion for the local cultures, the profound spirituality, and the craftsmanship of traditional artisans have guided her life ever since. Elisa named her business after Saraswati, the swan-riding beloved Hindu goddess of arts and education. The swan symbolizes spiritual grace and purity and according to Indian literature, dines on pearls, diamonds, and rubies.

The backbone of the business is love and appreciation of high-quality unusual stones, and the hand workmanship of the silversmiths of India, Nepal and Thailand. Saraswati offers fair employment and benefit opportunities, and contributes to a number of non-profit organizations such as The Central Asia Institute (building girls schools in Pakistan and Afganisthan), Maiti Nepal (which rescues little girls from prostitution rings and gives them a life), HEAL Africa (a special hospital for women in the Congo), Amnesty International, Mercy Corps and EnlightenNext.org.